Enzyme with leuDH activity, nucleotide sequence coding therefor and process for the prepartion of the enzyme

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an enzyme with LeuDH activity, to the B. cereus nucleotide sequence coding therefor, to the transformation of microorganisms of the genus E. coli with a plasmid containing this sequence, and to a process for the preparation of the enzyme.

This application is based on application no. DE 19606494.5 filed in Germany on Feb. 22, 1996, the entire content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an enzyme with LeuDH activity, to the B. cereus nucleotide sequence coding therefor, to microorganisms of the genus E. coli which contain said sequence, and to a process for the preparation of the enzyme.

2. Background Information

Leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH, EC 1.4.1.9) is an NAD⁺ -dependent oxidoreductase which catalyzes the reversible deamination of L-leucine and various other aliphatic L-amino acids to their keto analogues, the equilibrium of the reaction lying on the L-leucine side. The enzyme is suitable for the production of L-tert.-leucine and other non-proteinogenous aliphatic amino acids in the enzyme membrane reactor. L-tert.-Leucine functions as a chiral inductor in chemical synthesis and is used in the preparation of drugs, bringing about an improvement in the metabolic stability of peptides and pseudopeptides.

The process for the preparation of L-leucine in a membrane reactor using LeuDH obtained from B. stearothermophilus has been described by T. Oshima et al. (1). At 72° C., however, the temperature optimum of LeuDH from B. stearothermophilus is more than 10° C. higher than that of LeuDH from B. cereus. This species has also been screened as an efficient enzyme producer.

Schutte et al. (2) have described the preparation and purification of the enzyme under discussion. It has a molecular weight of ca. 310 kDa and consists of eight identical subunits of 39 kDa each (3), in contrast to the other known types of LeuDH (the others have 6). LeuDH from B. cereus has a temperature optimum of ca. 60° C. and is stable up to 50° C. in the pH range between 5.6 and 9.8 (heat for 30 min in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.8, containing 0.1% 2-mercaptoethanol). It can be stored in 50% glycerol at -20° C for at least one year without activity loss (2).

These properties make the increased use of LeuDH from B. cereus appear advantageous. However, because of toxin formation, B. cereus is classified in hazard category 2 (German Law on Epidemics) and may only be handled if increased safety precautions are taken. This makes larger-scale enzyme production from the wild strain unattractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide the enzyme LeuDH known from B. cereus by another route. The invention provides a B. cereus DNA sequence (DNA fragment) which is characterized in that it codes for an enzyme with leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) activity and comprises

(a) the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, or

(b) a nucleotide sequence corresponding to the sequence of (a) within the degeneracy of the genetic code, or

(c) a nucleotide sequence hybridizing with the sequences of (a) and/or (b).

The mutant of the DNA sequence (a) formed by single or multiple base substitution, removal, insertion or exchange codes for an enzyme with identical biological activity to that of the DNA sequence (a).

The corresponding amino acid sequence between codons 450 and 1550 is set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. The DNA fragment (a) has an overall length of ca. 1.7 kb.

The chromosomal DNA is isolated from the LeuDH-forming microorganism in a manner known per se. This is effected for example by the process of H. Saito and K. Minra, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 72, 619 (1963), or Heinrichs et al. (4). The resulting DNA is then cleaved in a manner known per se for ligation with plasmid DNA. It is preferable to use restriction endonucleases which do not cut the LeuDH gene. The ligation with the plasmid DNA is facilitated by choosing a restriction endonuclease (or restriction endonucleases) for which there is only one cleavage site. The B. cereus DNA fragment according to the invention can be inserted by ligation into any plasmids capable of autonomous replication in E. coli. Examples which may preferably be mentioned are ColE1, pSC101, pBR322, pACYC177, pCR1 and especially pUC18.

The chromosomal DNA is ligated with the plasmid DNA in a manner known per se, for example by cleavage of the chromosomal donor DNA and the plasmid with the same restriction endonuclease(s) and subsequent ligation of the cleavage products with a DNA ligase (11). It is preferable to choose an SmaI cleavage site and an XbaI cleavage site. With the commercially available pUC18 and the DNA fragment according to the invention, this gives pLeu2 of 4401 bp. This vector has been deposited in the E. coli strain XL1 blue under the number DSM 10441 in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures in accordance with the Budapest Convention.

FIG. 1b shows the corresponding restriction map. Vector pLeu2 can undergo autonomous replication in E. coli.

The vectors carrying the DNA fragment according to the invention can be transformed in a manner known per se to microorganisms of the genus E. coli. The enzyme with LeuDH activity is constitutively strongly overexpressed in E. coli under the endogenous LeuDH promoter from B. cereus and is present in the E. coli cells in a proportion of up to ca. 50% of the soluble cell protein. This value exceeds the value found for expression in B. cereus by a factor of 10 to 30.

The invention further relates to the use of the vectors containing the DNA fragment according to the invention, in the appropriate transformants, for the preparation of enzymes with LeuDH activity.

The media to be used for incubation of the transformants are synthetic, semisynthetic or natural media such as those in general use. They contain nutrients such as carbon sources, nitrogen sources and inorganic compounds. Examples of favourable carbon sources are sugars such as glucose, fructose or invert sugar, saccharified starch, sorbitol or glycerol. Examples of favourable nitrogen sources are ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium tartrate, ammonium acetate or urea. Examples of favourable nutrients which can be offered as both nitrogen and carbon sources are peptone, meat extract or corn steep liquor. Examples of favourable inorganic compounds are potassium dihydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium hydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, iron(II) sulphate, iron(II) chloride, iron(III) sulphate, iron(III) chloride, manganese sulphate or manganese chloride. Examples of other favourable nutrients are yeast extract or vitamins.

The transformants can be incubated either in a liquid medium or in a solid medium. It is generally advantageous to use a liquid medium. For large-scale production it is particularly advantageous to carry out the incubation with shaking or with aeration and stirring. The incubation temperature is 20° to 45° C., preferably 28° to 37° C. It is advantageous to adjust the medium to a pH of 6 to 9 with a suitable neutralizing agent during the incubation. As a rule the enzyme is present inside the cells.

After expression of the recombinant LeuDH DNA in the chosen E. coli strain, the cells are therefore macerated (e.g. by grinding with glass beads) and the desired enzyme is obtained from the resulting crude extract by methods which are generally known. This crude extract can also be used for the activity test. In this way it is found, in one Example, that the specific LeuDH activity of the enzyme obtained from the recombinant clone according to the invention has increased by a factor of ca. 27 compared with the crude extract similarly obtained from B. cereus (0.6 u/mg→16 u/mg).

The invention also provides the enzyme obtained in this way and its use for the enzymatic synthesis of non-proteinogenous, especially aliphatic L-amino acids by reductive amination of the corresponding α-keto acids.

L-tert.-Leucine is preferably used.

Examples of starting compounds used for the corresponding L-amino acids are 2-oxo-4-methylpentanoic acid (ketoleucine), 2-oxo-3-methylpentanoic acid (ketoisoleucine), 2-oxo-3-methylbutanoic acid (ketovaline), 2-oxopentanoic acid (ketonorvaline), 2-oxo-4-methylhexanoic acid, 2-oxobutanoic acid, 2-oxo-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid (keto-tert.-leucine), 2-oxohexanoic acid (ketonorleucine), 2-oxo-4,4-dimethylpentanoic acid (ketoneopentylglycine), 2-oxo-3,3-dimethylpentanoic acid, 2-oxo-4-ethylhexanoic acid, 2-oxo-5,5-dimethylhexanoic acid, 2-oxo-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid and 2-oxo-4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid.

Characteristic features of the enzyme obtained according to the invention are an increased initial activity and a lower product inhibition compared with enzymes known for these purposes from the state of the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a. Gene for leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus cereus in pUC18.

FIG. 1b. Sequencing of the gene for LeuDH from B. cereus (pLeu2 with SmaI/XbaI fragment).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Experimental Section

1. Isolation of Genomic DNA from B. Cereus

B. cereus DSM 626 was inoculated from the strain collection as an overnight culture in 4 ml of 2% yeast extract, 0.2% K₂ HPO₄ and 4% glucose and shaken at 30° C. The preculture was used to inoculate 200 ml of the same medium (1:40 dilution) and the cells were left to grow to an OD₆₀₀ of 1.43 (4 h at 30° C.). 1 g of the resulting 2 g of bacterial cells was used for isolation of the genomic DNA. The DNA was isolated essentially by the method of Heinrichs et al. (4). For efficient removal of the DNA, RNAse A (0.1 mg/ml) was added as well as the protease (Quiagen). The yield from 1 g of cells (moist weight) was 1.8 mg of genomic DNA.

2. Preparation of a PCR Fragment of LeuDH

A genome bank was prepared by synthesizing two degenerate primers (TTCGAA/GTATT/CTA/G/TGAAAAATAT/CGATTATGAG/ACAA GGCA/GTTGATCACATAATCCGGG/CGCATAGACGAT), which were derived from B. cereus protein sequences and the known sequences of already cloned LeuDHs from T. intermedius (5) and B. stearothermophilus (6).

The codon usage of B. cereus is shown in Table 1, the information in which can also be found on the Internet under http://tisun4a.lab.nig.ac.jp/codon/cutg.html. With these primers and the genomic DNA as template, an 850 bp DNA fragment could be synthesized in the PCR (100 ng of template, 40 pmol of each primer, 200 μmol of dNTPs, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 2.5 u of Taq polymerase, annealing temperature 42° C., 35 cycles: 1.: denaturation: 5 min at 94° C., 2.-34.: denaturation: 1.30 min at 94° C., annealing: 1.30 min at 42° C., synthesis: 72° C., 35.: last synthesis: 7 min at 72° C.) . The DNA fragment was cloned into vector pUC18 and sequenced according to (7).

3. Detection of the LeuDH Gene by Southern Blotting

To prepare a DIG-labelled DNA probe, the PCR was repeated with the cloned LeuDH fragment as template and the above primers, using DIG-labelled dUTPs (66 μM DIG-11-dUTP, 66 μM dTTP, 134 μM dATP, dCTP, dGTP) (8).

The genomic DNA was cleaved with various restriction enzymes and separated by electrophoresis on a 0.8% agarose gel (50 V, 5 h, RT) and the separated DNA was transferred to a nylon filter and, after UV crosslinking, hybridized with the DNA probe (8). The bound DNA was visualized by chemiluminescence (reagent: CSPD, Luminograph) or by means of a colour reaction (8). The DNA cleaved with the enzyme XbaI showed a band of ca. 3000 bp after hybridization, which was suitable for creating a partial gene bank.

4. Creation of a Partial Gene Bank and Screening With an Activity Test

The genomic DNA separated in the 2000-3000 bp region on the agarose gel was cut out of the gel with the agarose and isolated from the gel with glass milk (Jetsorb). The DNA purified in this way was cloned into vector pUC18 and transformed in Escherichia coli XL1 blue (9). Ca. 500 colonies were picked from this partial genome bank and transferred to master plates. The colonies were transferred to a Whatman filter and subjected to an activity test (6, 10). A clone giving an intense blue colouration was found.

5. Characterization of the Recombinant E. Coli Strain

5.1. Determination of the DNA Sequence

The plasmid DNA was isolated from the positive E. coli clone and a gene map was created by digestion with various restriction enzymes. The plasmid was called pLeu1 (see plasmid map, FIG. 1a). Plasmid pLeu1 was used to prepare plasmid pLeu2 (FIG. 1b), in which the non-translated region at the 5' end of the gene was shortened to 400 bp by digestion with the restriction enzyme SmaI. Subgenomic fragments were cloned from this plasmid and the complete DNA sequence was determined using the universal and reversal primers from Pharmacia and 5 sequence-specific primers (7). Both strands were sequenced as shown in SEQ ID NO:1. The strain E. coli XL1 blue pLeu2 was deposited under no. DSM 10441 in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures in accordance with the Budapest Convention.

5.2. Expression of the Recombinant LeuDH DNA in Escherichia Coli

5.2.1. Activity Test

The recombinant clone was grown overnight in 5 ml of LB medium and the bacteria were centrifuged off, resuspended in 1.6 ml of PBS and then macerated with glass beads (0.3 mm diameter) (2 min in a Vortex). The resulting crude extract was used in an activity test to show an activity of 16 u/mg. The LeuDH activity of the recombinant clone has accordingly been increased by a factor of 30 compared with the crude extract from B. cereus (0.6 u/mg) (2).

5.2.2. Test Procedure

3 ml scale

Solutions required:

0.1M glycine in 0.1M NaCl solution

0.1M NaOH

52.2% of sol. a +47.8% of sol. b gives buffer solution of pH ca. 10.7.

13.53 mg/ml of KPI, pH 8.0, NAD (20.4 mM)

8.59 mg/ml of KPI, pH 8.0, L-leucine (65.5 mM)

Assay:

2000 μl of 0.1M glycine/KCl/KOH buffer,

pH 10.7

500 μl of NAD

500 μl of L-leucine

25 μl of sample

Temp.:

25° C., λ=340 nm, factor: 19.453

5.3.3. Preparation of LeuDH

The strains were fermented in the following media:

B. cereus (DSM 626):

2.0% (w/v) of yeast extract

0.2% (w/v) of K₂ HPO₄

4.0% (w/v) of glucose

pH 7.0

highest possible oxygenation during the fermentation

temp.: 30° C.

The growing time at 1% inoculation volume is ca. 6 to 8 h; expected OD₅₆₂ ca. 50; harvest at 1% residual glucose.

E. coli pLeu2:

LB medium

0.5% (w/v) of NaCl

0.5% (w/v) of yeast extract

1.0% (w/v) of bactotryptone

100 mg/μl of ampicillin

pH 7.0 to 8.0

PO₂ : 70 to 90%

temp.: 37° C.

Growing time at 5% inoculation volume ca. 5 h; harvest at OD₅₅₀ =3.3.

The following values are obtained:

    ______________________________________                                                          Moist                  Activity                                     Fermentation                                                                              weight of                                                                               Total  Volume /moist                                       volume     bacteria activity                                                                              activity                                                                              weight                                 Strain                                                                               (1)        (kg)     (u)    (u/l)  (u/kg)                                 ______________________________________                                         B.    200        70.7     143,000                                                                               715      2023                                 cereus                                                                         E. coli                                                                              20         0.075      8250 412    110,000                                pLeu2                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

LITERATURE

References cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference and are listed below in their entirety for convenience:

1. Oshima et al., Biotechn. Bioeng. Vol XXVII (1985) 1616-1618

2. Schutte et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 22, (1985) 306-317

3. Lunsdorf et al., FEBS Lett., 193(2) (1985) 261-265

4. Heinrichs et al., J. Bacteriol., 175 (1993) 6760-6766

5. Oshima et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 222, (1994), 305-312

6. Nagata et al., Biochemistry, 27 (1988) 9056-9062

7. Sanger et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 74 (1977) 5463-5467

8. Boehringer Mannheim, data sheet on "DNA labeling and detection kit: nonradioactive."

9. Bullock et al., BioTechniques, 5 (1987) 376-378

10. Raetz, C.R.H., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 72 (1975) 2274-2278

11. Sambrook, J., Fritsch E. F. and Maniatis, T. (1989) Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual 2nd Ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Codon usage table                                                              Bacillus cereus  gbbet!: 37 CDS's (10419 codons)                               fields:  triplet!  frequency: per thousand! ( number!)                         __________________________________________________________________________     UUU 25.2(                                                                              263)                                                                               UCU 19.8(                                                                              206)                                                                               URU 32.0(                                                                              333)                                                                               UGU 3.3(                                                                               34)                                UUC 13.5(                                                                              141)                                                                               UCC 2.1(                                                                               22) UAC 10.5(                                                                              709)                                                                               UGC 1.8(                                                                               19)                                UUA 43.1(                                                                              449)                                                                               UCA 19.2(                                                                              190)                                                                               UAA 2.6(                                                                               27) UGA 0.1(                                                                               1)                                 UUG 9.2(                                                                               95) UCG 2.8(                                                                               29) UAG 0.9(                                                                               9)  UGG 15.8(                                                                              165)                               CUU 14.0(                                                                              146)                                                                               CCU 10.6(                                                                              110)                                                                               CAU 16.1(                                                                              168)                                                                               CGU 14.3(                                                                              149)                               CUG 1.7(                                                                               18) CCC 0.6(                                                                               6)  CAC 4.2(                                                                               44) CGC 4.7(                                                                               49)                                CUA 10.3(                                                                              107)                                                                               CCA 17.9(                                                                              196)                                                                               CAA 27.2(                                                                              283)                                                                               CGA 4.7(                                                                               49)                                CUG 2.9(                                                                               30) CCG 4.5(                                                                               47) CAG 6.7(                                                                               79) CGC 0.6(                                                                               6)                                 AUU 41.6(                                                                              433)                                                                               ACU 15.8(                                                                              165)                                                                               AAU 42.8(                                                                              445)                                                                               AGU 13.6(                                                                              142)                               AUC 10.6(                                                                              110)                                                                               ACC 1.9(                                                                               20) AAC 18.7(                                                                              195)                                                                               AGC 7.0(                                                                               73)                                AUA 13.1(                                                                              136)                                                                               ACA 31.3(                                                                              326)                                                                               AAA 60.3(                                                                              628)                                                                               ACA 5.0(                                                                               61)                                AUG 22.7(                                                                              237)                                                                               ACG 13.9(                                                                              145)                                                                               AAG 16.9(                                                                              176)                                                                               ACG 2.3(                                                                               24)                                GUU 24.1(                                                                              251)                                                                               GCU 25.9(                                                                              270)                                                                               GAU 48.2(                                                                              502)                                                                               GGU 26.7(                                                                              278)                               GUC 3.0(                                                                               31) CGG 3.3(                                                                               34) GAC 9.7(                                                                               101)                                                                               GGC 6.9(                                                                               72)                                GUA 33.0(                                                                              344)                                                                               GCA 35.8(                                                                              373)                                                                               GAA 48.0(                                                                              479)                                                                               GGA 31.1(                                                                              324)                               GUG 9.4(                                                                               98) GCG 12.2(                                                                              127)                                                                               CAG 15.2(                                                                              158)                                                                               GGG 9.7(                                                                               101)                               __________________________________________________________________________      Coding GC 36.42% 1st letter GC 48.18% 2nd letter GC 36.50% 3rd letter GC       24.75%                                                                         Codon usage for each CDS (format)                                        

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1723 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                              (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                          (A) ORGANISM: Bacillus cereus                                                  (B) STRAIN: DSM 626                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        CCCGGGCAATAGGAATCGACTTGCCAAAAGTGGCACCAATTGCAGCAGTAGAAGTTGTGA60                 ATCCAGCGATGCAGGCGACAATTGATGCAGCGATGTTAACACAAATGAATCGCCGCGGAC120                AAATTAAAGATTGTATCGTTGATGGACCACTTGCTTTAGATAATGCAGTATCAACAAATT180                GCAGCAGAGCATCAAAGGCATAGTAAGTGATGTAGCAGGTAAGGCAGATATTTTACTCGT240                CCCAACGATTGAAGCTGGAAATGTGCTATATAAATCACTCGTATACTTTGCGGATGCAAA300                AGTAGGAGCAATGATTGCTGGCGCAAAAGCACCGATTGTTTTAACATCTCGTGCTGATTC360                AGCAGAAACAAAAGTATATTCATTAGCATTGGCAGTTGCGACTGCTTCAAAATAAACCAA420                AAAGGGTAAAACATTAGGGGGAAACGACAATGACATTAGAAATCTTCGAATACTTAGAAA480                AATATGATTATGAGCAAGTAGTATTTTGTCAAGATAAAGAATCTGGTTTAAAAGCAATTA540                TTGCAATTCATGATACAACACTTGGACCGGCTCTTGGTGGAACAAGAATGTGGACATATG600                ATTCTGAAGAAGCGGCGATTGAAGATGCATTGCGTCTTGCAAAAGGGATGACATACAAAA660                ACGCAGCAGCTGGTTTAAACTTAGGTGGTGCGAAAACAGTAATTATCGGTGATCCTCGTA720                AAGATAAGAGCGAAGCAATGTTCCGTGCACTAGGACGTTATATCCAAGGACTAAACGGAC780                GTTACATTACAGCTGAAGATGTTGGTACAACAGTAGATGATATGGATATTATCCATGAAG840                AAACTGACTTTGTAACAGGTATCTCACCATCATTCGGTTCTTCTGGTAACCCATCTCCGG900                TAACTGCATACGGTGTTTACCGTGGTATGAAAGCAGCTGCAAAAGAAGCTTTCGGTACTG960                ACAATTTAGAAGGAAAAGTAATTGCTGTTCAAGGCGTTGGTAACGTAGCATATCACCTAT1020               GCAAACATTTACACGCTGAAGGAGCAAAATTAATTGTTACAGATATTAATAAAGAAGCTG1080               TACAACGTGCTGTAGAAGAATTCGGTGCATCAGCAGTTGAACCAAATGAAATTTACGGTG1140               TTGAATGCGATATTTACGCACCATGTGCACTAGGCGCAACAGTTAATGATGAAACTATTC1200               CACAACTTAAAGCAAAAGTAATCGCAGGTTCTGCGAATAACCAATTAAAAGAAGATCGTC1260               ATGGTGACATCATTCATGAAATGGGTATTGTATACGCACCAGATTATGTAATTAATGCAG1320               GTGGCGTAATTAACGTAGCAGACGAATTATATGGATACAATAGAGAACGTGCACTAAAAC1380               GTGTTGAGTCTATTTATGACACGATTGCAAAAGTAATCGAAATTTCAAAACGCGATGGCA1440               TAGCAACTTATGTAGCGGCAGATCGTCTAGCTGAAGAGCGCATTGCAAGCTTGAAGAATT1500               CTCGTAGCACTTACTTACGCAACGGTCACGATATTATTAGCCGTCGCTAATCATTCATAT1560               ATAACTTTTACAAAAGGTGTGGTTACCTCTTATGAGGTTTCCACTTCCTTTTGAATTTAT1620               TAGTGGAGGTAGCAACATTGTCTGTAAATCGAATTCTTGTTATTAACCCAGGTAGTACAT1680               CCACAAAAATTGGTGTTTTTGATAATGAAAGACCCGTTCTAGA1723                                (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 366 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        MetThrLeuGluIlePheGluTyrLeuGluLysTyrAspTyrGluGln                               151015                                                                         ValValPheCysGlnAspLysGluSerGlyLeuLysAlaIleIleAla                               202530                                                                         IleHisAspThrThrLeuGlyProAlaLeuGlyGlyThrArgMetTrp                               354045                                                                         ThrTyrAspSerGluGluAlaAlaIleGluAspAlaLeuArgLeuAla                               505560                                                                         LysGlyMetThrTyrLysAsnAlaAlaAlaGlyLeuAsnLeuGlyGly                               65707580                                                                       AlaLysThrValIleIleGlyAspProArgLysAspLysSerGluAla                               859095                                                                         MetPheArgAlaLeuGlyArgTyrIleGlnGlyLeuAsnGlyArgTyr                               100105110                                                                      IleThrAlaGluAspValGlyThrThrValAspAspMetAspIleIle                               115120125                                                                      HisGluGluThrAspPheValThrGlyIleSerProSerPheGlySer                               130135140                                                                      SerGlyAsnProSerProValThrAlaTyrGlyValTyrArgGlyMet                               145150155160                                                                   LysAlaAlaAlaLysGluAlaPheGlyThrAspAsnLeuGluGlyLys                               165170175                                                                      ValIleAlaValGlnGlyValGlyAsnValAlaTyrHisLeuCysLys                               180185190                                                                      HisLeuHisAlaGluGlyAlaLysLeuIleValThrAspIleAsnLys                               195200205                                                                      GluAlaValGlnArgAlaValGluGluPheGlyAlaSerAlaValGlu                               210215220                                                                      ProAsnGluIleTyrGlyValGluCysAspIleTyrAlaProCysAla                               225230235240                                                                   LeuGlyAlaThrValAsnAspGluThrIleProGlnLeuLysAlaLys                               245250255                                                                      ValIleAlaGlySerAlaAsnAsnGlnLeuLysGluAspArgHisGly                               260265270                                                                      AspIleIleHisGluMetGlyIleValTyrAlaProAspTyrValIle                               275280285                                                                      AsnAlaGlyGlyValIleAsnValAlaAspGluLeuTyrGlyTyrAsn                               290295300                                                                      ArgGluArgAlaLeuLysArgValGluSerIleTyrAspThrIleAla                               305310315320                                                                   LysValIleGluIleSerLysArgAspGlyIleAlaThrTyrValAla                               325330335                                                                      AlaAspArgLeuAlaGluGluArgIleAlaSerLeuLysAsnSerArg                               340345350                                                                      SerThrTyrLeuArgAsnGlyHisAspIleIleSerArgArg                                     355360365                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A Bacillus cereus DNA sequence which codes for an enzyme with leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) activity and comprises(a) the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, or (b) a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 within the degeneracy of the genetic code.
 2. A vector capable of autonomous replication in E. coli, said vector comprising the DNA sequence according to claim
 1. 3. The vector according to claim 2 which is characterized by the restriction map of FIG. 1b.
 4. The vector according to claim 2, wherein said vector is pLeu2 contained in the strain E. coli XL1-blue pLeu2 deposited under Accession No. DSM
 10441. 5. A microorganism of the species E. coli with a high productivity for LeuDH, said microorganism comprising a vector according to claim
 4. 6. A microorganism of the species E. coli which is deposited as the strain E. coli XL1-blue pLeu2 under Accession No. DSM
 10441. 7. A process for the preparation of leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH), said process comprising the steps ofi) inserting a vector comprising recombinant DNA containing the DNA sequence according to claim 1 and plasmid DNA which undergoes autonomous replication in E. coli into a microorganism of the species E. coli to obtain a transformant, ii) cutting the transformant in a suitable medium to produce Leu-DH, and iii) separating the Leu-DH from the microorganism.
 8. A process for the preparation of non-proteinogenous L-amino acids from the corresponding α-keto acids comprising the step of incubating leucine dehydrogenase prepared according to claim 7 with an α-keto acid.
 9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the α-keto acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-oxo-4-methylpentanoic acid, 2-oxo-3-methylpentanoic acid, 2-oxo-3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-oxopentanoic acid, 2-oxo-4-methylhexanoic acid, 2-oxobutanoic acid, 2-oxo-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid, 2-oxohexanoic acid, 2-oxo-4,4-dimethylpentanoic acid, 2-oxo-3,3-dimethylpentanoic acid, 2-oxo-4-ethylhexanoic acid, 2-oxo-5,5-dimethylhexanoic acid, 2-oxo-3-cyclohexylpropanoic acid and 2-oxo-4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid.
 10. The process according to claim 7, wherein said plasmid DNA is DNA from plasmid pUC18.
 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein said transformant is the strain E. coli XL1-blue pLeu2 deposited under Accession No. DSM
 10441. 